Coin collector



Sept. 2, 1947. o. A. SHANN COIN; COLLECTOR Filed June 15, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 1 //vv/v TOR By 0.4. SHANN ATTORNEY- Sept. 2, 1947. o. A. SHANN '2,426,649'

coin COLLECTOR Filed June 13, 1945 ESheets-Sheet 2 lNl EN TOR 0.4. SHANN By ATTORNEY Sept. 2, 1947. o. A. SHANN 2,426,649

COIN COLLECTOR Filed June 15, 1945 s Sheets-Sme t ,5-

- ATTORNEY receptacle of Fig. 2

walls torn away Patented Sept. 2, 1947 com COLLECTOR Oscar A. Shann,

Short Hills, N. ..J., ,ass'ignor to Bell Telephone Laboratories,

' Incorporated,

New York, N. Y a-corporation of New York Application June 13, 1945,'SerialNo. 599,166

8 Claims.

This invention relates to coin collectors and has for an object the provisionof an improved type of cash compartment for safeguarding the coins deposited therein.

The invention is of particular utility in connection withtelephone coin collectors which are usually provided with a locked compartment adapted to house a coin box or receptacle containing an aperture to permit deposited coinsto enter the receptacle. Theiront wall of the 'com- 'partment usually includes a door provided with a key-operated lock to guard the compartment except when access to the coin receptacle is desired.

It is also advantageous to have incorporated as part of the receptacle a locking member for clos of the invention the coin receptacle is provided.

with a rotatable shutter adapted to occupy two positions, in one position closing the coin receiving aperture in the receptacle, and in-the second position opening the aperture. The means for moving the shutter the other is preferably mounted on a rotatable shaft which projects beyond the front wall of the receptacle for engagement with an extension of the lock center of the compartment door lock whereby the turning of the key to lock the door moves the shutter to aperture opening position and the turning of the key to unlock the door moves the shutter to aperture closing position.

Preferably the shutter operating mechanism is provided with latching means adapted "to be set at the central office whereby the shutter can be moved to aperture opening position only once before the receptacle is returned to the central ofiice.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view partly insection of a telephone coin collector embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is an'enlarged side view of the lower portion of the collector of Fig. 1 with "certain parts torn away to disclose the coin receptacle and'the shutter operating mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a front view of a portion of the :coin

taken in the direction indicated by the arrows 3, 3 shown on "Fig. '2;

Fig. 4 is another view of the coin receptacleof Fig. 2 with the box cover removed and the side to disclose the shutter and its control mechanism in their relative positions ready for the insertion of the receptacle in'th'e cash compartment of the collector;

from one of these positions to walls 16 and I! having "usual-1y comprises Fig. 5-.is similar to'Fig. leXcept that the shutter has been operated to open the coin-aperture for the-reception of deposited coins;

Fig. 6 is similar :to Fig. 5-except that the shutter has been operated'to close the coin aperture and has been locked in that position;

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the latching mechanism tor the shutter with the latching mechanismtemporarily rendered ineffective; and

Fig. '8 is similar to Fig. 7 except that the latching mechanism is shown operated to prevent the shutter from being moved from its closed position.

.For illustrative purposes, the invention has been shown embodied in a telephone coin collector of the general type disclosed in the Forsberg United States Patent l,043,21'9,.issued November ,5, 1912. :As shown in Fig. .1, such a coin-collector an upper housing It provided with a coin gauge ll having coin entranceslots to permit coins to be deposted. If the collector is of the prepay type, the deposited coins are temporarily held within the upper housing for subsequentcollection :or refunddepending on whether ornot the desired telephone connection is established. The lower housing 12 is usually provided "with a refund chute for coin return if the call is not established and with a cash compartment containing a portable coin receptacle 13 for receiving the coins if the desiredponnection is completed. The present invention is primarily concerned with an improved type of coin receptacle, the details of which are shown in the subsequent Figs. 2 to 8 inclusive.

.In Fig. 2 the portable coin receptacle 13, which is preferably of metal, is shown "in coin receiving position within the cash compartment of the lower housing l-Z. The front wall of the cash compartment comprises a .door It having a lock '15 to prevent access to the cash compartment except by an authorized .personequipped with a proper key. This door, for example, may be of the type disclosed 'in-the Hoyt United States "Patent 2,025,390, issued December 24, 1935, except for a modification of the lock structure Which will be described later.

The top of the receptacle comprises twospaced aligned openings 18 and I9; and between these two walls lies a rotatable shutter :ZIJ which also contains an opening 21 adaptedto be aligned with openings ['8 and "t9. It will *be apparent from oeptacl'e I3 is properly placed within the cash compartment of the I collector,

Fig.2 that when therethe three openings 18, "I9 :and .21 when properly aligned lie :imme- '20. In Fig. 4, the shutter 26 lies counter-clockwise position with bolt 2'! engaging diately below the lower end of the collect chute 25 whereby any coins directed into chute 25 will fall through openings I8, I 9, 2| into the re--,

ceptacle.

As shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, the shutter 20 is l rotatable about a centrally located pin 26 which is suitably fastened to the lower stationary wall IT. The amount of rotation permitted in shutter 20 is determined by a bolt 2! projecting upwardly from Wall l1 through an arcuate lot 28 in shutterin its maximum one end of slot 28 and with the shutter opening 2! about 90 degrees removed from the fixed wall opening IS; in Fig. 5 the shutter 29 is in its maximum clockwise position with bolt 2! engaging the opposite end of slot 28 and with shutter opening 2! in alignment with the fixed wall 0pen ing [9.

In order to actuate shutter from oneof its the shutter 28 near its periphery has 7 row of spaced slots 29 adapted to be engaged by I the teeth 3,!) of a driving wheel 3| fixed to a horizontal rotatable shaft 32 suitably mounted in apertures in vertical Walls 33, 34. Wall I! contains a slot Or opening, 35 to permit the teeth of Wheel 3| to engage shutterZll. Shaft 32 extends beyond the front wall 33 of the receptacle and terminates in a disk or coupling member 39 containing two opposed slot 40, 4i. The relative location of shaft 32 in front wall 33 is such that when the receptacle i3 lies in its normal position within the cash compartment of the collector, shaft 32 is inalignment with the key-operated lock center of the lock 15 which forms a part of the door l4. As shown in Fig. 2 this key-operated lock center has a forked extension 42 'projecting rearwardly from the lock housing and terminating in" two spaced pins 43, 44 which, when the door is in position, are adapted to enter slots 40, 4! respectively, to couple lock center extension 42 with shaft'32.

When the coin receptacle, suchas receptacle I3, is first placed within the cash compartment of the collector, it is desirable that the shutter '28 be in aperture clo ing position as shown in Fig. 4, for which condition, in the embodiment shown, the slots 4 and Ill in the coupling member 39 have the angular position shown in Fig. 4; Hence, when the unlocked door It is placed in position, the two pins' l3, 44 carried by the extension of the lock center should be so arranged that they occupy the angular positionshown in Fig. 4 whereby in the'placing of the unlocked door !4 in position, pin 43 will enter slot 4i! and pin 44 will enter slot 4! to couple shaft 32 with the lock center. When the key 41 is inserted in the key slot of lock l5 and is rotated to move the lock bolt 48 from its retracted position to its advanced locking position shown in Fig. 4, the key center and hence the key center extension 42 are turned in a counter-clockwise direction whereby coupling member 39 is rotated from its position in Fig. 4 to its position in Fig. 5 so that the manual turning of ke 41 from unlocked condition to locked condition produces a rotation of shaft 32 of about one-half turn in the illustrated embodiment. Since the toothed wheel 3| is rigidly mounted on shaft 32 it follows that the rotation of shaft 32 from its position of Fig. 4 to its position of Fig. 5 rotates shutter 29 to bring the shutter opening 2! into alignment with the aperture !9. It similarly follows that the turning of keys! from looking position to unlocking posishaft 32 from its lever 5| with either one of the tion will rotate the shutter in the reverse manner from its position of Fig. 5 back to its position of Fig. 4.

The above described arrangement for placing the position of the shutter 20 under the control of key 41, whereby with the key in locked position the coin receiving aperture in the receptacle is open and with the key in unlocked position the coin receiving aperture is closed, may be further modified to safe guard the contents of the receptacle after a coin-filled receptacle has been removed from the collector. This safety device may comprise latching mechanism which, when initially set, will permit the shutter to be moved only once from aperture closing position to aperture opening position after which the 'form of this latching mechanism will now be described.

Mounted for free rotationabout shaft 32 is a cam wheel 50 to whichis rigidly attached a depending lever 5! whereby the maximum motion of wheel 50 is determined by the engagement of stop pins 52, 53 (Figs. 7 and 8). Lever 51 is accessible'for adjustment by mean of a circular opening 54 in the front wall 33 of the receptacle. In preparing an empty receptacle for use in a coin collector a suitable tool is inserted through opening 54 to engage lever 5| and move the lever clockwise until it engagesstop pin 52 shown in Fig. '7; and while still maintaining lever 5| against'stop pin 52 the shaft 32 is rotated by hand to place shutter 20 in its aperture closing position as in Fig. 4. Opening 54 is then closed with a suitable seal 55 which may, for example, comprise a disk of a partially cured thermosetting material which is fully cured after it is snapped into a'locking position closing the opening whereby the subis prevented except sequent removal of the seal by breakage.

With tooth wheel 3| and cam wheel 50 in their positions just described and with shutter in its aperture closing position, the various movable parts are in relative positions disclosed in Figs. 4 and 7. It will be noted from Figs. 4 and 7 that the cam surface 56 of wheel 501s engaged by the free end of a spring biased arm 51. Arm 51 and a latching member 58 are angularly displaced from each other but are suitably mounted for movement as a unit about a shaft 6|, being biased for clockwise motion by a coiled spring 62 which simultaneously urges arm .51 against cam surface 56 and latch 58 towards toothed wheel 59, but as long as arm 5! is riding on cam surface held awayfrom the toothed wheel 5!! as shown in Fig. '7.

With the various movable parts of the receptacle in their relative positions shown in Figs. 4

and 7, the receptacle is ready to be inserted in a collector to receive deposited coins; After the insertion of the receptacle in the cash eompart ment, the replacement of door i4 and the locking of the door by turnin of key 41 will move position of Fig. 4 to its position of Fig. 5 resulting in the clockwise movement'of shutter 20 from aperture closing position to aperture opening position. .Cam wheel 50 is not staked to'shaft 32 but is movablein- I dependently of the shaft and, hence,'there is 7 no movement of cam wheel 55 due tothe rotation of shaft 32 just described. However, the clockwise rotation of shutter 20 from its position of Fig. 4 to its position of Fig. 5causes shoulder 454 on shutter 28 to engage shoulder "65 on-cam wheel fillandcauses the-cam wheel "to rotate counter-clockwise from its position of Fig. 4 to its position of Fig. 5. of wheel 50 moves cam surface iiii'outo'f engagement with spring pressed arm to permit the arm-to move farther towards shaft 32 to engage cam surface 65;.and since arm Bland latch member 58 are joined together this additional move ment of arm 51 to permit it :to ride on cam surface 65 permits latching members?! to enter between the .teeth on wheel 3 as shown in Fig, 8 thereby preventing any subsequent counterclockwise rotation of toothed wheel a! while per-- rnitting its movement in a clockwise direction The relative positions of the various parts of the receptacle asshown i-n-F-igs.'2,'5 and "8 are retained while the receptacle lies in the cash compartment of the collector for collecting deposited coins. Whenever it is desired to remove the receptacle, the unlocking of door It by the turning of key 41 rotates the shaft 32 in such a direction as to move shutter 20 from its aperture opening position of Fig. 5 to aperture closing position of Fig. 6, with which movement latch member 58 does not interfere. However, when the shutter 20 has reached its aperture closing position of Fig. 6, the shutter cannot now be moved back to aperture opening position because it is locked against such movement by latching member 58.

When it is desired to remove the mone from the receptacle it is necessary to break the seal 55 and by means of a tool inserted through opening 54 move lever 5! over against stop pin 52 which movement again causes arm El to ride on cam Surface 5'5 and thence throws latching member 58 out of engagement with the toothed wheel 50 as shown in Fig. '7. Shaft 32 may then be rotated clockwise to move shutter Zll to aperture opening position so that by turning the receptacle upside down it may be emptied of the collected money.

For illustrative purposes, the top wall is of the receptacle has been removed from the receptacle in Fig. 4 to disclose the shutter operating mechanism, while in Figs. 5 and 6 the top wall It is entirely absent for the same reason. Itis intended that cover i6 should be welded Or otherwise permanently fastened to the side walls of the receptacle.

It is to be understood that the particular form of this invention, chosen for illustrative purposes and described above, may be variously modified without departing in anywise from the spirit of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a coin collector, a cash compartment for receiving deposited coins, a portable coin receptacle within said compartment and having an aperture in a wall thereof into which the deposited coins are directed, said receptacle having a movable shutter normally closing said aperture and adapted to be moved to aperture opening position, a door for said compartment, a lock for said door comprising a lock center adapted to be rotated by the operating of a key to lock and unlock said door, and means coupled to said lock center for moving said shutter to aperture opening position when said door is locked and for moving said shutter to aperture closing position when said door is unlocked.

2. In a coin collector, a cash compartment for receiving deposited coins, a portable coin receptacle within said compartment and having an This movement W by the operation of a key coupled to said shutter for rotating the same, a door for said compartmenaa lock for said door comprising a lock center adapted to be rotated to'lock and unlock said door, said shaft being axially aligned with said =lock center, and meansfor coupling said shaft to saicllock center for moving said shutter to aperture opening position when said door is "locked and for moving said shutter to aperture closin position when said door is unlocked.

In a coin collector, a cash compartment "for receiving deposited coins, a portable coin receptacle within said compartment-and having an 'aperture in a wall thereof into which the deposited coins are directed, said receptacle having a movable clcsure member for said aperture adapted to occupy an aperture closing position and an aperture opening position, a door for said compartment, a key-operated lock for said door, and means actuated by the turning of the key in said lock for controlling the movement of said closure member.

4. In a coin collector, a cash compartment for receiving deposited coins, a coin receptacle within said compartment having an aperture in a wall thereof into which the deposited coins are directed, said receptacle having a movable shutter adapted to occupy a position opening said aperture and a position closing said aperture, a keyoperated lock mounted on an external Wall of said compartment and having a rotatable lock center with a key slot accessible from outside said compartment, and means for actuating said shutter in accordance with the key-controlled movements of said center.

5. A portable coin receptacle having a coin receiving aperture in the top wall thereof, a rotatable shutter adapted to occupy a position closing said aperture and a position opening said aperture, a horizontally arranged shaft mounted below said shutter, and a driving wheel mounted on said shaft and engaging said shutter to rotate said shutter in accordance with the rotation of said shaft, a portion of said shaft projecting outside said receptacle.

6. A coin receptacle having a coin receiving aperture in a wall thereof, a movable shutter adapted to be moved from a position opening said aperture to a position closing said aperture, a rotatable shaft projecting through a side wall of said receptacle having a portion within said receptacle and a portion. external to said receptacle, a toothed wheel coupled to said shaft within said receptacle and engaging said shutter whereby the rotation of said shaft in a certain direction causes said shutter to move from aperture opening position to aperture closing position, and a pawl cooperating with the teeth of said wheel to hold said shutter in closed position.

7. A coin receptacle having a coin receiving aperture in a wall thereof, a movable shutter adapted to be moved from a position opening said aperture to a position closing said aperture, a rotatable shaft projecting through a side wall of said receptacle and having a portion within said receptacle and a portion external to said receptacle, a toothed wheel coupled to said shaft within said receptacle and engaging said shutter whereby the rotation of said shaft in a certain direction causes said shutter to move from aperture opening to aperture closing position, a movable locking pawl adapted to occupy either of two positions, said pawl in one position engaging said teeth, said pawl in a second position being disengaged from said teeth, said pawl being biased to said first position, means for holding said pawl in said second position, and means actuated by said shutter in moving from aperture closing position to aperture opening position for releasing said pawl from said holding means.

8. In a coin collector, a cash compartment for receiving deposited coins, a portable coin receptacle within said compartment and having an aperture in a wall thereof into which the deposited coins are directed, said receptacle having a movable closure member for said aperture adapted to occupy an aperture closing position and an aperture opening position, a door for said com- 5 of said closure member.

OSCAR A. SHANN'. 7

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 15 1,104,042 Forsberg July 21, 1914 1,984,037 Shann Dec. 11, 1934 7 2,172,554 Veale Sept.12, 1939 2,371,114

Von Stoeser Mar. 6, 1945' 

